“How? Jules, this isn’t like you.”

“I know.” She wipes her eyes and her nose on the back of her hand. “We went out for dinner with some other people from the office, and I had too much to drink.”

“Honey, is he trying to ruin things for you at work?”

“No! No, nothing like that.” She takes a deep breath and I hand her a tissue. “It’s just so uncomfortable. And it doesn’t help that he’s freaking hot.

Almost Luke Williams hot.” She smiles at me and my shoulders relax just a little.

“Wow, that’s pretty hot.”

“I know, right?” She shakes her head and looks sad again. I hate seeing Sad Jules. “And Nat, you’d be shocked what he’s hiding under those business suits he wears to work. Wow. It was the best sex of my damn life.”

“Jules, are you hung up on this guy?”

“It doesn’t matter even if I am. There is a no fraternizing policy at our office.

We could both be fired.” Her eyes well again, and I just feel so helpless.

“What has his reaction been to all this?”

“Well he was pretty pissed when he woke up the next morning and I was gone.”

“Ah, so you did the whole sleep-with-‘em-then-bail-when-they’re-asleep move.” I nod knowingly.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to face the ugly morning after.”

“Can’t blame you there. But if he was pissed you were gone, maybe he really likes you.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s hopeless.”

“But…”

“No, don’t try to fix this, Nat. It’s done. I’ll go back to the office eventually; I just need a little time to regroup. I took a few vacation days and now I’m working from home until I work up the nerve to see him again.”

“Okay.” I rub her arm soothingly, and then stand. “I’m going up to shower.

Let me know if you need me.”

“Thanks.” She gives me a watery smile. “Oh, Nat?”

“Yeah?”

“Stupid jealous is kinda hot.”

Chapter Eighteen

I’m picking you up in an hour.

Please dress formally.

Oh my. I stare at the text and read it again.

I glance at the clock. It’s five thirty, and I’m definitely not anywhere near close to being formal or sexy. I don’t even know where to start.

This is a job for Jules.

“Jules!” I yell out my bedroom door, mentally thumbing through my closet.

“What?”

“I need to get sexy.”

“What?”

I shove my phone in her hands and she breaks out into a huge smile.

“Wow, he knows how to woo a girl.”

“Jules!” I clasp onto her shoulders and shake her. “Help me. I’m not good at this.”

“Come on.” She grabs my wrist and drags me into my closet. “The new red Louboutins are a no-brainer.” She pulls them off the shelf and hands them to me.

“What am I going to wear with them?”

I’m in a panic.

“Don’t you have a little black dress?”

“No.” I frown. I don’t have many dresses at all.

“Everyone has a little black dress, Natalie.”

“Not me.” I shrug.

“Get in the shower and scrub, shave and loofa. I’ll be back.”

“That sounds painful.” My eyes widen in fear and Jules smirks at me.

“We’re just getting started. Go!

Clock’s ticking.” She jogs back to her room and I start the shower.

***

Fifty minutes later, I am buffed and polished. Jules has curled my thick chestnut hair and managed to twist it up into some kind of sexy knot thing, with tendrils hanging around my face.

The face is a Julianne masterpiece.

She’s made my eyes look all smokey and sultry, accentuating the green in them.

My cheekbones are defined, and my lips are pouty with a cranberry red lip stain that is guaranteed to not smudge or come off for eighteen hours, which sounds too good to be true to me, but I’ll take it.

My eyes run down the rest of my body in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of my closet door.

I’m hot.

Jules has lent me a to-die-for black dress. The neckline reminds me of something Elizabeth Taylor would have worn, just off the shoulder with a deep V-neck. The back swoops down low across the small of my back. It’s sleeveless and is gathered at the waist with a thick waistband. The skirt is floaty and soft, and flirts just at my knees.

Under the dress is some impressive black underwear and a garter belt with nude stockings. I’ve never worn stockings before, but they’re amazingly comfortable and feel silky and sexy.

My beautiful red stiletto Louboutins are killer with this dress.

Jules walks into the room and lets out a loud wolf whistle.

“Well, don’t you clean up well, best friend of mine?”

I laugh and do a turn so she can see the whole effect.

“Will I do?”

“Girl, he’s going to die of heart failure the minute he sees you. You look amazing.” She smiles and hugs me tight.

“Here, this wrap and purse will go with your outfit.” She hands me a beautiful red wrap and handbag that perfectly match the shoes and I smile in gratitude.

The doorbell rings and there are now about five million butterflies in my stomach.